The pursuit of Kylian Mbappe was always likely to prove a difficult one for Arsenal and so it has proved, with Real Madrid stepping up their attempts to bring the Monaco striker to the Bernabeu ahead of next season according to reports in Spain.

Since an official £87m opening offer was lodged for his services at the start of the week, Gunners chiefs have been plotting their next move as they prepare for a possible club-record transfer this summer.

But following on from rumours Mbappe could yet turn his back on Europe's elite this summer to stay with the Ligue 1 winners, El Confidencial now claim Real will pull out all the stops to purchase the 18-year-old goalscoring sensation.

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The Spanish publication claims Madrid owner Florentino Perez is a huge fan of the player and, unlike their seemingly failed pursuit of Eden Hazard, won't allow him to slip through Real's fingers.

Perez and Real watched on as Manchester United purchased Paul Pogba for a world-record transfer fee last summer but are determined to avoid Mbappe flourishing elewhere and will pay whatever is needed for him to move this summer.

Arsenal's trump card continues to be their ability to offer guaranteed first-team football while a fellow Perez favourite Karim Benzema battles with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale for the coveted central striking role at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe is one of Arsenal's top transfer targets (Image: Getty Images)

Mbappe would be far from assured of a starting role at Real, something the report adds, and means Arsenal still retain faith a transfer could happen this summer.

Manager Zinedine Zidane is not driving the transfer as he had earmarked Hazard as his top target and values the goalscoring output of current No.9 Benzema but would appreciate a move to snare one of the best young talents in Europe ahead of the Gunners.

Perez is keen on making three additions to the squad this summer, with Mbappe being one of them, and the Gunners will need to call upon the rapport between Wenger and the player's family and the first-team chance he will be offered to ensure he doesn't end up warming Real's bench.